Rayudu’s last-ball six hands Mumbai thrilling win

AFP, KOLKATA, INDIA

Ambati Rayudu smashed a last-ball six as the Mumbai Indians pulled off a thrilling five-wicket victory over the Kolkata Knight Riders in the Indian Premier League on Sunday.

Mumbai needed 21 to win off the last over to surpass Kolkata’s 175-7, but New Zealander James Franklin (45 not out off 23 balls) hit paceman Lakshmipathy Balaji for 17 off the first five balls, before Rayudu finished the game.

South Africa’s Jacques Kallis top-scored with 59 and seamer Rajat Bhatia took three wickets for Kolkata.

In Sunday’s other match, Chris Gayle cracked an unbeaten 75 as the Royal Challengers Bangalore topped the points table with an eight-wicket win over the Chennai Super Kings.

The West Indies opener hit six sixes in his 50-ball knock as Bangalore surpassed Chennai’s total of 128-8 with two overs to spare in their last league match.

Gayle, who added 80 for the second wicket with Virat Kohli (31), finished the match when he hit spinner Suresh Raina for 11 runs off the last three balls of the 18th over.

Chennai skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni hit six sixes in his explosive 40-ball 70 not out, but he received little support from the other end, the highest stand of the innings being 42 for the fifth wicket.

Chennai made a poor start after being put in to bat as they lost four wickets for 22 runs in the opening six overs, with left-arm paceman Zaheer Khan dismissing Australia’s Michael Hussey and Raina.

Hussey could make just 4 before inside-edging a Zaheer delivery on to his stumps, while Raina was caught by Kohli at point.

New Zealand left-arm spinner Daniel Vettori put more pressure on Chennai when he removed Subramaniam Badrinath and West Indies all-rounder Dwayne Bravo to eventually finish with 2-15 off four overs.

This story has been viewed 2127 times.

Comments will be moderated. Remarks containing abusive and obscene language, personal attacks of any kind or promotion will be removed and the user banned.